Mike Krzyzewski congratulates Mercer players after the Bears' upset of Duke

Mike Krzyzewski congratulates Mercer players after the Bears' upset of Duke. (Grant Halverson/Getty)

RALEIGH – A familiar nasally voice cut through the joyous din of the Mercer locker room on Friday afternoon.  A half-hour after No. 14 Mercer upset No. 3 Duke, 78-71, in Raleigh in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Mike Krzyzewski stepped into the entrance of the Bears locker room and congratulated them on their victory.

“You guys have a hell of a basketball team,” Krzyzewski said. “I love the game and you guys the play the game really, really well. And your coach coaches it well. If we had to be beaten, I’m glad we got beaten by a hell of a basketball team. So good luck to you.”

When he departed, a stunned silence filled the locker room, as the players digested the moment.

Daniel Coursey